title: Economic and environmental assessment of propionic acid production by fermentation using different renewable raw materials.
abstract: Production of propionic acid by fermentation of glycerol as a renewable resource has been suggested as a means for developing an environmentally-friendly route for this commodity chemical. However, in order to quantify the environmental benefits, life cycle assessment of the production, including raw materials, fermentation, upstream and downstream processing is required. The economic viability of the process also needs to be analysed to make sure that any environmental savings can be realised. In this study an environmental and economic assessment from cradle-to-gate has been conducted. The study highlights the need for a highly efficient bioprocess in terms of product titre (more than 100g/L and productivity more than 2g/(L · h)) in order to be sustainable. The importance of the raw materials and energy production for operating the process to minimize emissions of greenhouse gases is also shown.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Energy System Studies, Department of Technology and Society, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pär
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tufvesson
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Roya R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Sardari
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tufvesson
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005990:Glycerol / Q000191:economics / Q000378:metabolism; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D011422:Propionates / Q000191:economics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D059205:Renewable Energy
chemical_list: D011422:Propionates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C029658:propionic acid; D009584:Nitrogen; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Carbon footprint; Economic assessment; Glycerol; LCA; Propionic acid